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why do you come to the forums?

does coming here and posting here give you a feeling of doing something, going somewhere? it seems it does to me. can I stop coming to the forums? and see nothing is lacking from my life. can I stop reading zen books? and see that I don't really need to know anything more. can I stop sitting for a week or two? without worrying that I won't get it anymore.

Nicely said Seiryu! I was drawn here by a need to learn, practice and share with a community. Why am I here now? Because I'm here. Why do I practice? Because I practice (using the word "I" loosely of course). Be well Sam!

One wanders into the monastery for a time to rub elbows with "Friends in the Way", to learn and share with Teachers and Companions, receive some guidance and pointers to a Good Direction ... then, whether staying or going on, One puts all into Practice.

Even when inside the monastery, sitting Zazen or working in the garden, Practice is ultimately a one person non-effort wrestling with the "me myself and i". Even if sitting Zazen two feet from companions on either side, Zazen is just sitting Zazen beyond inside or out, left right or center.

There are two online Buddhist places I go to these days, because it supports practice.. Treeleaf, which is a real community, and another forum because there are some good teachers and old “faces” there. The reason for going online is very simple.. geography. I connect with local sangha when possible, but not nearly as much as I used to, because I no longer have a footloose “Buddhist lifestyle” and am running on the treadmill of middle age responsibilities (care-giving,and trying to sustain a business amid escalating expenses and diminishing capacity). So there is going across town to practice when able, and going for a coffee for conversation when the opportunity arises, but there is also this amazing medium where I can “have a coffee" with practitioners around the world. It is also a place to express in words things that only fellow Buddhist geeks would be passionate about... can't do that with the brother-in-law, ...or business associates. And here at Treeleaf there is also sharing the inexpressible too... globally.
Very cool and appreciated.

Gassho
Daizan

Last edited by Daizan; 11-01-2013 at 05:23 AM.

美道 代山 Bido Daizan

As a trainee priest, please take any commentary by me on matters of the Dharma with a pinch of salt.

I come to my home. To my temple. Where my sangha and global family are.

But at the same time, I don't need to go anywhere because I am here.

Right now.

Gassho,

Kyonin

Kyonin, I feel the same way. It is such an honour to practice with everyone. Treeleaf, the members here, this is my family, which is something I've never experienced before. Not like this anyway, so thank you everyone, for being part of this sangha.

YOU WORKING ON LEVITATION ALREADY????? WOW! Must be that Dark zen stuff? Still working on doing dishes the right way .
With hard work, a good solid 10 year plan and setting several ambitious goals for myself, I hope to get to your level someday? Make myself into a shiny, levitating, always right, out of this world Buddha that everybody is going to want to pay big bucks for to see! YEAH! What was that site for 10 dollar Inka on PDF again?

Well, for me, it's a many layered thing. There is of course the obvious conversations going on that are Zen related. Helps me shake myself out of the " I know what I'm talking about syndrome." Even if I never post a reply to a lot of them.It has really opened my eyes on many various subjects.
Another aspect is the social aspect. Seeing people post about things they are enduring and the happy moments too. I've met some folks that ended up being awesome people outside of the Sangha so to speak. I love the variety of people. Different walks of life, nationalities, behaviors ( I still miss Chet being around and we tend to check on each other via FB here and there). It's exciting to see such a varied group getting along ( even if there may be misunderstandings from time to time).
It also is just...peaceful to me. I enjoy the entirety of the forum. I enjoy the insights of our teachers here. It's beyond words how grateful I am for finding this special little spot.
Dave _/\_

Well, for me, it's a many layered thing. There is of course the obvious conversations going on that are Zen related. Helps me shake myself out of the " I know what I'm talking about syndrome." Even if I never post a reply to a lot of them.It has really opened my eyes on many various subjects.
Another aspect is the social aspect. Seeing people post about things they are enduring and the happy moments too. I've met some folks that ended up being awesome people outside of the Sangha so to speak. I love the variety of people. Different walks of life, nationalities, behaviors ( I still miss Chet being around and we tend to check on each other via FB here and there). It's exciting to see such a varied group getting along ( even if there may be misunderstandings from time to time).
It also is just...peaceful to me. I enjoy the entirety of the forum. I enjoy the insights of our teachers here. It's beyond words how grateful I am for finding this special little spot.
Dave _/\_

I miss Chet's input as well. I reckon that's what makes this a sangha and not a discussion forum - after a while here you start to register people's personalities - to care about and learn from members.

And the fact that Jundo and Taigu tirelessly stay in touch and answer a question almost the moment it's asked (even if it's not always the answer we're expecting or want).

I'm here, quietly grazing on your words, to help sustain and inspire my practice so my practice may sustain and inspire my life and the lives of others. I am truly grateful for everyone's practice. Thank you.

I echo Myoku, this is our sangha space! Why wouldn't I want to come here?

In Cave of Tigers one of the exchanges mentioned this. Daido Loori spoke that there is no separation between you and Sangha and that if there is separation between 'you' and 'sangha' then there is the place of practice. I think I got that right!?
Gassho.

And THAT is the reason I come and participate. I realized there was something missing in my own studies about Zen. Books don't interact with us. Books don't help answer the difficult questions, encourage us through example, or especially challenge our misunderstandings or shortcomings directly. Not to the extent that a real person can.

I was talking about this with my Ango practice partner. It is great to have a place to come to learn from so directly. I feel like I have absorbed much more from these forums than years of going once a week to a physical Sangha would have allowed me. In a sense, being here with all of you makes me feel like I AM in the monastery physically daily;no matter WHERE I am physically.

And THAT is the reason I come and participate. I realized there was something missing in my own studies about Zen. Books don't interact with us. Books don't help answer the difficult questions, encourage us through example, or especially challenge our misunderstandings or shortcomings directly. Not to the extent that a real person can.

Gassho
C

Clark, that is so well put. I too practiced with books only before finding Treeleaf. Although I am a huge, huge book worm, books still do not have the heart, the input like Treeleaf does.